Preauricular Abscess
Basics
Description
- Acute abscess of a preexisting preauricular sinus
- Preauricular sinus
- First described by Van Heusinger in 1864
- One of the most common congenital abnormalities of the head and neck region
- Sporadic and inherited occurrence
- Synonym(s): infected preauricular sinus; infected ear pit; infected preauricular pit
Epidemiology
- Males and females equally affected
- Preauricular sinus forms during antenatal period and present at birth but can become apparent at an older age.
Incidence
- No defined incidence of preauricular abscess
- Preauricular sinus incidence in the United States is 0.1–0.9%, 0.9% in England, 1.6–2.5% in Taiwan, and 4–10% in some areas of Africa.
Prevalence
No defined prevalence of preauricular abscess
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- Etiology
- Most commonly: Staphylococcus spp.
- Less commonly: Streptococcus spp.
- Pathophysiology
- Three theories for preauricular sinus formation: defective fusion of the six auricular hillocks resulting in preauricular sinus; remnants of incomplete closure of the dorsal part of the first pharyngeal groove; and isolated ectodermal folding during auricular development
- Abscesses are caused by obstruction of these preauricular sinus openings leading to fluid collection within sinus.
Genetics
- Autosomal dominant pattern with incomplete penetrance and variable expression
- Rarely associated with branchiootorenal (BOR) syndrome (autosomal dominant disorder)
Risk Factors
- Poor hygiene
- Preexisting preauricular sinus
- Epidermal cysts
- Pseudocysts of the auricle
- Calculi
Commonly Associated Conditions
Preauricular sinus is rarely associated with hemifacial microsomia and microtia.
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Preauricular Abscess." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 27th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2020. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688836/all/Preauricular_Abscess.
Preauricular Abscess. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2020. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688836/all/Preauricular_Abscess. Accessed September 13, 2024.
Preauricular Abscess. (2020). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (27th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688836/all/Preauricular_Abscess
Preauricular Abscess [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2020. [cited 2024 September 13]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688836/all/Preauricular_Abscess.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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ED - Golding,Jeremy,
ED - Stephens,Mark B,
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